The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1887-06-09
HENDERSON ENTERPRISE.
Growth and Development of One Of Our
Big Mercantile Firms-J. A. Harri-
son & Co.-Something Of Their
Popularity, Success and
Prosperity.

Perhaps the growth and prosperity
of no mercantile firm in our midst has
been more remarkable, if not phenom-
email, than that of J. A. Harrison &
Co., and under the head of Hender-
derson Enterprise it is to this house
and this subject that the GOLD LEAF
purposes 10 address itself to-day. We
are always glad to note the success of
any effort in the field of human en-
desvor, especially when such comes
under our own observation, and in our
own community.
The firm of A. Harrison s. Co.,
general merchants, was organized and
started in business about three years
ago, in the Reavis building, corner of
Garnet and Breckenridge streets. AT
the end of one year their trade had in
creased SO largely, they were COM
PEELED to seek more room. The mid
die store in the Burwell building was
secured and their stock enlarged in
proportion to their increased facilities
| for carrying such varied and extern
sive assortment as their trade demand
ed. With what aattering success their
undertaking has been crowned, is evil
denced by the immensely of their pres
ent business, which has increased every
year, until now the extent of their
dealings was really an agreeable sur
prise to the writer when he was made
somewhat acquainted with the same
few days ago. And he has examined
their books and read letters, direct
from both manufacturers and dealers,
enough to qualify him to know whereof
he speaks. We saw enough to con-
vince us that J. A. Harrison & Co. are
doing an immense business, that they
pay cash for nearly everything they
buy, and discount most all of their
bills. Their saving in this one item
alone would be considered very fair,
profit, by many small dealers. This is
one way to account for the low prices
at which this firm is enabled to sell.
In the first place, they have one of the
best and closest buyers that ever Sc
lected stock of goods, in the person
| of Mr.. G. NJ. Bridgers, manager and
| buyer for the firm, and then paying
the ready cash and getting the benefit
of all discounts, gives them an advan-
tage which they are not slow to use to
best effect always.
The store room at present occupied
by Messrs. Harrison & Co. is 3ox125
feet, lighted with gas. In addition to
!. .ftiln iil ,..hey-ocrupv brick storage house
VIE rrlJ J,-eiptinp Lincoln. he accsr
Of good size where are kept such things
as groceries and provisions in car load
lots.
They carry complete stock of gen
eral merchandise of every description
dry goods, clothing, boots, shoes,
hats, notions, gents furnishing goods,
| millinery, ladies' dress goods, trim
mings, laces, housefurnishing goods,
glass and crockery ware, tinware, gro
ceries, provisions, sugar, coffee, meat,
meal, lard, molasses, ETC., etc., and
buy in large quantities. To illustrate:
They buy shoes in 100 case lots; flour
200 barrels at time; cakes and crack
ers in 50 barrel lots; hats in 100 case
lots; sheeting in 10 case lots. Meat,
meal sugar, coffee, molasses, lard, &c,
in car load lots, and pay spot cash fol
them. 1t looks like letting one:
"light shine" sure enough when VIZ
, say they have just received SO dozer
: lamp chimneys alone, but that is TIT
. way ]. A. Harrison & Co. buy. The,
do a considerable wholesale bushes
: in connection with their retail trade
: selling largely to country merchants
! as low as they can buy North. Tn
extent of Messrs. Harrison & Co.
: wholesale trade somewhat astonishe
c us; we did not think any of our deal
t; ers were dong such an extensive whole
o sale business, covering so great a var
. ETY. of articles handled. This fri
% does a large order business also, shiI
e ping goods almost daily by mail an
" express to points IS and 100 mil
G. distant.
it They have a tremendous ladie
I'd trade, both at home and abroad, and
e. would be interesting to know how +
specimens from their millinery ar
dress goods departments travel. i
= deed, Harrison & Co.'S store is a gre
~ resort for the ladies, as it is at all tim
K crowded with almost every conceivat
ed fabric of the loom and every dew
NJ. and appointment intended to be wo
IN as comforting garments or as addltIo
Mt to personal adornment and dress
I'd need not undertake to call by nal
M the countless number of articles Ike
hu in this department. Suffice to say
-, is complete in every respect, the pfi'
md always within reason and reach, W
cir attentive ladies, whose taste and JUG
in ment in helping one to make a sci
md ton, can at all times be called Il
wn service, or the most polite and obi
ep- ing gentlemen to wait on you.
Besides their business here J.
s.t Harrison & Co. have branch store
,rk- Oxford, having opened there about
out same time they moved into their pl
rye ent quarters and increased their OF
the atoms in Henderson. 1t is manaI
lose by Capt. Harrison, a good buslr
nek man and excellent merchant, and
'he success of the branch establishn